L-J's sermons on Romans in 79 through the early 80's had a good deal of influence on my embrace of Calvinism . ( BTW , I disagree with his take on some of Romans 7 ) . He introduced me to many historical figures who were Calvinists ( many before Calvin was born ) . So I started reading those fellows as well . Reading any of Calvin's works came much later ( which seems to be the case here with many who hold to the doctrine of grace ) . In the process of all of this I went through Scripture with a fine toothcomb and came to settled Calvinistic convictions by 86 or so . Yet it wasn't until a decade later that I first joined a Reformed Baptist Church . I stayed much too long with the Evangelical Free Church . Each EF church is not a carbon copy of the others . There may be some excellent ones out there . But I kept bringing up a lot of disagreements I had with some of the teachings and practices of the Church with the Pastor . Many of the teachings had nothing to do with Calvinism as such . Most Fundamentalist would have been in agreement with me "So why have you remained here ? " was basically the reply I received . The major thing was being required to teach some things ( and use some things ) in the Sunday School class I was teaching .
I really got off-track there . It has been a pilgrimage . I still learn from folks on the other side of the isle . I even got Dave Hunt's Newsletter up thru 1990 . He is a Plymouth Brethren as I was in my "formative years " as they say . J.N.Darby was a strong Calvinist -- A.W. Pink even quotes him positively in his "Sovereignty of God" classic .
Some ( just some ) writers/theologians/preachers that I have found helpful through the years have been : Charles H. Spurgeon , L-J , AW Pink , James Boice , JI Packer , Robert Reymond , Joseph Irons , Herman Hoeksema , Walter Chantry , John Calvin , the Apostle Paul and John the beloved one .
I really got off-track there . It has been a pilgrimage . I still learn from folks on the other side of the isle . I even got Dave Hunt's Newsletter up thru 1990 . He is a Plymouth Brethren as I was in my "formative years " as they say . J.N.Darby was a strong Calvinist -- A.W. Pink even quotes him positively in his "Sovereignty of God" classic .
Some ( just some ) writers/theologians/preachers that I have found helpful through the years have been : Charles H. Spurgeon , L-J , AW Pink , James Boice , JI Packer , Robert Reymond , Joseph Irons , Herman Hoeksema , Walter Chantry , John Calvin , the Apostle Paul and John the beloved one .